San Francisco 49ers: Getting Kaepernick, Vernon Davis on same page

SANTA CLARA -- Colin Kaepernick may be 4-1 as the 49ers starter, but he's still developing a rapport with two offensive cogs: tight end Vernon Davis and center Jonathan Goodwin.

On Tuesday, positive signs emerged about those relationships heading into the 49ers' NFC West game Sunday night against the host Seattle Seahawks.

Davis, who has four receptions in the past four games combined, insisted that his chemistry with Kaepernick will come and it's a "fun" process.

"When I first got here, everyone talked about being on the same page with Alex (Smith), and that's something me and Kap don't have yet," Davis said. "It's just beginning.

"It took a while for me and Alex to get like that. In the beginning, he'd underthrow me and overthrow me. ... I tell Kap, 'Take your time on me. I'm not as fast as you think.' It's fun, it's interesting, because it's like starting all over again."

Davis said he gets "chills" when thinking about a near hookup Sunday night in which Kaepernick overthrew him on a potential touchdown pass during the 49ers' 41-34 win at New England.

The 49ers clinched a playoff berth with that victory and can wrap up the NFC West by either beating the Seahawks on Sunday night or the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park in a Dec. 30 regular-season finale.

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Now in his seventh season, Davis marveled at how far the franchise has come. "We built an empire," Davis added. "We have a lot of guys that want to win." That includes Kaepernick, whom Davis praised for playing like a "complete champion" Sunday night.

As the media asked Goodwin about Sunday's four snaps that Kaepernick fumbled, Kaepernick walked by and declared: "Don't ask Goody about it. It's my fault."

Goodwin's lighthearted response: "No, it's 50/50, like a husband and wife. Of course, he's the wife."

Coach Jim Harbaugh expressed optimism that defensive tackle Justin Smith could practice this week despite sustaining an elbow injury Sunday. Referring to Smith by his nickname, Harbaugh told KNBR 680-AM: "Knowing what I know of Justin Smith and the situation, yeah I think the Cowboy will be around. Cowboy will be saddled up, ropin' and ridin'."

The 49ers are 5-0 in prime-time kickoffs heading into Sunday night's game at Seattle. Wide receiver Randy Moss said of the late starts: "I don't mind them."

Moss did not speak Sunday night after beating the Patriots, his team from 2007-2010.

Moss caught his third touchdown of the season in that win, and he's tallied a catch in all but two games this season while totaling 23 for 362 yards.

Frank Gore said the 49ers are locked in on their goal: "It's time to make that run. We came up short last year. We know if we're all on the same page, we've got a chance to get to the big dance."

Added fellow running back Anthony Davis: "We're trying to get to the last game. Last year, it hurt, and it's still on everybody's mind."

Kaepernick has posted a 104.4 passer rating since Week 11, ranking third in the league over that span.